One month after buying a 2nd hand 1Ds Mark II, all I can say is how much better the images look than my 5D Mark II one's. They have a naturalness and film-like quality about them that the 5D Mk II just cannot match. Oh and did I mention how good the AF is. I like this camera better than the 5, although it's menu system really is awful and clunky compared to the 5's and I do not even bother looking at the tiny LCD (but maybe this is a good thing!).

Ahah yes, still use exclusively mine, waiting for next big megapixel EOS ... (or D800E if they wait too long !)
Sure its tiny lcd, awkward menus and no liveview become old, but the photgraphic part (viewfinder, AF, IQ etc) is still first class.

Yes, the big viewfinder is like sitting at the cinema, I also love how the viewfinder blackout is really short, so when you are shooting action you know exactly when you got the shot. Whereas on the 5D MK II, I was always unsure of when it took it. I do not really mind that the camera does not have LV as I virtually never use it anyway. It reminds me of when I used a T90.

Yeah the interface of the IDs II now seems deplorable and oh my god that pathetic little lcd, but AF and IQ are wonderful. We have 5 1Ds II's just gathering dust in cupboards at work; can't sell them, no one wants to use them and batteries are dead on a few of them.

The 5D2 was never a viable option for me. AF and metering on the 1Ds2 are far superior. The 5D3's low light performance is tempting, and it addressed a lot of the problems with the 5D2's AF. And, the 1Dx is better than the 1Ds2 in a lot of ways.

I'll eventually replace my 1Ds2's, but so far, it has made more sense for me to spend my "annual upgrade budget" on new longer/wider/sharper/faster glass rather than on new bodies.

Pixel Perfect wrote:
Yeah the interface of the IDs II now seems deplorable and oh my god that pathetic little lcd, but AF and IQ are wonderful. We have 5 1Ds II's just gathering dust in cupboards at work; can't sell them, no one wants to use them and batteries are dead on a few of them.

Pixel my friend I'd happily offer 1 of those poor unloved bodies a home . I'd even pay its air fair over here

People complain about the tiny LCD. If I recall, for many many decades there were no LCDs at all and some of the most iconic photos of all time were produced. My only complaint about them is the size of that battery. Those little 5D batteries spoil me.

I prefer the 5D2 over the 1Ds2. Sold the 1Ds2 last month. I prefer the 1Ds3 to either of them, and I prefer the 5D3 to the 1Ds3 (don't own 5D3, but used a CPS loaner). For me, it's all about the details and features.

John Power wrote:
People complain about the tiny LCD. If I recall, for many many decades there were no LCDs at all and some of the most iconic photos of all time were produced. My only complaint about them is the size of that battery. Those little 5D batteries spoil me.

When I were young we had to make do with a packet of crayons - none of this fancy smancy cameras.

John Mills wrote:
I have a nice home PP and I am not that far away. I think that covers all 5 bodies for you.

I really did mean we are not allowed to sell these cameras - so to me it seems they will just rot away in the cupboards. I charged one up the other day to see if it would work, and it took me quite while to remember how to use the dam menu again - wow that's a bad interface.

The same can be said about the 5D classic, which was released a year after the 1DsII. Canon at that time, did something magical with their sensors. I don't get the same rendering from the 5D3. I want the same film-like quality from the original 5D mixed with the new modern features and ergonomics of the mark III.